Investing in Graduate Development
Since 2009, AstraZeneca Global Operations has successfully run a graduate development programme. The programme’s excellence has been recognised both internally and externally and its objective is to provide a robust pipeline of talented future leaders across Global Operations and more widely across AstraZeneca.
Graduates worldwide, able to demonstrate remarkable technical and leadership skills, undergo a rigorous selection process to join the pharmaceuticals giant. Once recruited, they embark on a challenging and highly stimulating three-year development programme. They complete three eight-month placements, including one overseas, before undertaking their final ‘consolidation’ role for a period of 12 months. Upon successful completion of the programme, they are fully integrated into leadership roles within the business.
The Background
From their induction event onwards, participants are encouraged to take ownership for their own development with support from a Programme Manager, the programme’s Steering Group and line managers.
On completion of their second year and before embarking on their consolidation role, they are all asked to take part in a ‘Transition Workshop’. The workshop’s key objective is to set the graduates up for success in their consolidation role and to give them the tools and techniques to continue to develop as leaders as they step away from the consistent support of the programme infrastructure.
The Oakridge Centre's proposal to support the programme was extremely targeted to the needs of AstraZeneca’s culturally diverse group of graduates. The proposal also demonstrated a strong understanding both of the programme and the business. Furthermore, it was also a real attraction for the Programme Manager and the Steering Group, in making their decision, that Oakridge could offer one facilitator from the UK and one from the US, providing cultural diversity.
The Oakridge Centre designed a three-day Graduate Transition Workshop, with the first day focusing on the crucial leadership skills of influencing and conflict-handling. Day two encouraged the participants to develop a much greater understanding of their leadership style and its strengths and liabilities. The third day was devoted to career resilience and networking.
Each of the graduates was also given access to a learning log, which they completed and reviewed during and after each of the three days, enabling them to reflect on how they would apply their learning back at the workplace, to their leadership journey and to their career development.
The Results
Following the workshop, 22 graduates from 11 different countries are now in a position to play an active part in managing their career and personal development, leveraging the leadership and career development skills that they learned and practised during the workshop.
Feedback from the participants was outstanding, with graduates commenting that the Transition Workshop stood out as a key highlight in their career with AstraZeneca.
The Oakridge Centre Feedback
“It is testimony to the calibre of people recruited to AstraZeneca’s graduate programme that we had the opportunity to work with such a wonderful group who fully engaged with every activity and asked important and challenging questions. It was a joy to work with them.”
Anna White, Senior Associate
AstraZeneca Feedback
“I was looking for consultants who could provide a bespoke, end-to-end solution; designing, preparing and delivering an effective programme for our graduates. The work was put out to tender and The Oakridge Centre was the only consultancy that fully understood our business and its culture, designing a workshop specifically for my needs instead of presenting an off-the-shelf solution. With fresh ideas and using modern tools and techniques, The Oakridge Centre offered excellent value for money. There was an immediate trust between myself, Anna and Ed and they were quick to build a great rapport with our graduates too.”